Neutron absorption and shielding device



June 21, 1960 1. R. AXELRAD NEUTRON ABSORPTION AND SHIELDING DEVICE Filed Nov. 22, 1955 INVENTOR WI TNESSES filnited States NEUTRON ABSORPTION AND SHIELDING DEVICE 1 Claim. (Cl. 250-108) The present invention relates to neutron absorption and shielding devices adapted for mounting in a radiation shielding wall surrounding a radioactive area.

In the building of atomic reactors, shielding against radiation is of prime importance. In general, the reactor ,or radioactive area is surrounded by a-wall wherein the primary radiation shielding material is lead and the material such as polyethylene.

Instrumentation leads must be brought out from th radioactive area through the surrounding shielding wall. it has been a considerable problem toprovide shielding about such leads and to provide shielding about theopen- ,ing in the shielding wall through which: such leads pass.

The object of the present .invention is to provide a neutron shielding device adapted for mounting in a man: .tion shielding wall, surrounding a radioactive area through without permitting gamma or neutron radiation topas's to the exterior.

A further object of invention is to providea neutron shielding device of the character described having at least v one non-rectilinear tube or passageway means extending therethrough, which is adapted to contain instrumentation leads or the like, and a quantity of a solid material completely filling the device which is adapted to prevent passage of gamma radiation and to attenuate fast moving atent secondary shielding material is a high hydrogen content 1 :WhiCh instrumentation leads and the like may safely pass neutrons and capture slow moving or thermalneut'rons.

Other and further objects of the invention will, in part, be obvious and will, in part, appear hereinaften.

In the attainment, of the foregoing objects and in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a neutron absorption and shielding device or casingjcomprising (1) a container having, (2) at least one non- .rectilinear passageway means therethrough, (3) a layer I of a substance capable of absorbing gamma rays therein, .and (4) a solid resinous composition therein adapted to capture slow moving attenuate fast moving neutrons and orthermal neutrons.

More specifically, the neutron absorption and shielding device of this invention is embodied in a container adapted for mounting in a radiation shielding wall'surrounding "a radioactive area. The container is closed at bothends and has at least one non-rectilinear passageway means or tube extending therethrough. One end of the passageway means or tube opens throughone end of said container to said radioactive area. The other end of said passageway means or tube opens'tothe exterior of said radiation active area and surrounds the passageway means and completely fills the container throughout said distance.

A solid resinous composition, capable of attenuating longitudinally through container'll.

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'2 thermal neutrons, completely fills the balance of. the container and surrounds the remainder of the length of, the passageway means or tube. The solid resinous composition comprises (1') a resinous material having a high hydrogen atom content, specifically a resin having a ratio of hydrogenwatoms to all other atoms in the material within the range of from 1:1 to 2: 1, and (2) boron in an amount of at least 0.5 percent by weight based on the total weight of the resinous composition. The resinous composition is disposed within the container in such a manner and in such an amount whereby approximately 40% of the length of said resinous composition will attenuate and absorb substantially all neutrons impinging on the end wall of the casing nearest to the radioactive area.

1 The container'and passageway means or tube are of "such a structure and are assembled in such manner with ing drawing which by way of illustration, shows one preferred embodiment of the invention.

- Other embodiments of the invention employing the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural 30 changes'may be made therein as desired without departing from the purview of the present invention as defined in the appended claim. v l g Referring to the accompanying drawing, the lnvention as therein illustrated is embodied in a neutron absorption and shielding device or casing, referred to generally by "reference numeral 5, which is adapted for mounting in a radiation shielding wall, referred to generally by reference numeral 6, which surrounds a radioactive area, referred to generally by reference numeral 7. Shielding wall 6 as illustrated comprises three shielding layers, namely, a layer of steel 8, lead 9 or other substance capable of absorbing gamma rays, and a high hydrogen content shield- "ing material 10. The casing 5 comprises a container 11 which is illustrated as a generally cylindrical metal can lhaving end walls 16 and 18 and a generally circular side wall 2th The shapeof container 11 need not be circular. -Thus, sidewall 20., when viewed in cross section, may be square,'hexagonal, octagonal or the like. Container 11 maybe made from various materials, for example, metals such as stainless steel, cast iron, copper, and the like, or

ceramics such as porcelain. Container 11 may be mounted in shielding wall 6 in any convenient manner, for example, as by welding or soldering, or it may be threaded and screwed into wall 6.

A non-rectilinear passageway means or tube 22 extends One ,end of said passageway means or tube opens through end 16 of container 11 to, said radioactive area 7. The other end of 'tube 22 opens toa less radioactive area, for example,

'end walls 16 and 18 of container 11 in any convenient to the exterior, of the radiation shielding wall 6 through the end 18 of container 11. Tube 22 may be secured in manner such-as by soldering, welding or the like. As

'-',will "be explained more fully hereinafter, it iscssential Jes mov n neutron a d capt r n sl w mov es. 9

have ans-curve, it may be spiral in shape or possessed of any other generally non-rectilinear configuration whereby radiation cannot pass completely through it in a straight line.

Tube 22 may be made from any conveniently obtainab e ma e s m tr st a u h a me s or e ami sate.

' assent-e similar or different non-rectilinear shape may be mounted in container 11. Furthermore, it will be understood that one or more casings 5 may be'mounted in shielding wall 1 6 surrounding the radioactivearea 7.

A layer 30 of a substance which is capable of absorbing gamma rays, for example, lead,is disposed Within container 11 at the end thereof which is nearest to radioactive area 7. As illustrated on the drawing, the lead layer 30 extends a substantial depth within the container 11 from end Wall 16' and surrounds tube 22 and completely fills container 11 throughout said'depth. The thickness of the layer of lead 30 may be'varied, it only being necessary that the layer be of a sufiicient thickness to absorb substantially all of the gamma rays directed against wall 16 from radioactive area 7. While lead is the preferred material to use for absorbing gamma rays, other materials such as concrete, bismuth, or barium salts also are-suitable .for use in accordance with this invention A solid resinous composition 32, which is capable of attenuating fast moving neutrons and capturing slow moving or thermal neutrons, completely fills thalbalance of container 11 and surrounds the remainder ofthe length of tube 22. The resinous composition is a cQmbinationLo f two materials: (1) a resinous materialhavin'g a high Thydrogen content, more specifically -a material having a ratio of hydrogen atoms to all other atoms in the material Within the range of from 1:1 to Zifl and (2 at least 0.5

percent by weight of boron.

The high hydrogen content resinous material serves the v primary function of attenuating fast moving neutrons. The resinous materials which are suitable for use include those whichare normally either liquids or relatively high 40.5% to 10% by weight of thetotalcompositiontsland may be employed either/as the pure element or in any of its compounds. Thus, boric acid and boron carbide have been successfully used in accordance with this invention. Borax and boric acid also are satisfactory for use in certain circumstances, although care is required to prevent water evolving'therefromwhen thesellatter compounds are incorporated in "resinous materials which require heating t cureithem to a solid state. Esters of boron such as 'glyceryl iborate also :may'be used as the resinous composition32.

The following is an example of the preparation-of a resinous composition suitable for incorporation in a casing 5 of thi's'invention.

A resinous composition .is ,prepared by admixing 3% by weight of anhydrous boric oxide, by weight of polyvinyl chloride and enough dioctylphthalate to produce a paste having the consistency of thick'cream. This mixture is tpassedthrough a three-roll paint mill after which enough additional dioctylphthalate is addedto bring the total amount therein up to 57%. The-resultant mixtureit-hen istpassed'through the paint millto obtain a uni- .form'dispersion of the components. This mixture was .introducedinto a=container, such as indicated by ll-on thedrawing, which contained a layer of lead 30 therein and an S-shaped tube 22 passing through the center and "welded to the end-walls thereof Hand '18. Theresinous mixture is introduced into container'll through an opening '34 intend' wa-llils which is closed by plug 36. The :resinouscompositionflfiZ is introduced into container 11 throughxnpeningfifid. in :a quantity suflicient to till about fourfifths of .theacotnainer. Opening 34 then is closed "by .plug 36 and in vacuum line, which reduces the presisure withincontainer .11 to ten to fifteen mm. of'mercury, islconnected toxopening 38 in end 'wall 18. Vacuum .is maintainedlforia period of :about one hour to assure the removal of all entrapped air. At the end ofthis Edeaerating Lperiod, additional de aerated resinous material'32 islintroduced into container 11 through opening viscosity pasty-like fluids'which cure to solids on heating.

Example of resinous materials which are suitable include comprise materialknown as .plastisols. These-are dispersidns of a resin .(or a material which forms a resin when admixed with a plasticizer) in a plasticizer. 'Examples of such resins include chloroprene polymers and copolymers; vinyl-halide and vinylidene halide resins such as polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidenebromide, polyfluorochloroethylene; vinyl chloride and vinylidene chloride copolymers; copolymers of vinyl halides and vinylidene halides with other unsaturates such as vinyl chloride with vinyl acetate, vmyhdene bromide with vinyl acetate, and 1 through atleast 4o% of the totalllength oftresinousrcom ethylene with vinyl chloroacetate; halogenated highmo lecularweight natural resins and hydrocarbons suchas the commercially availablehalogenated parafiin waxes, the halogenated natural rubbers, andthe like. 7

are suitable for use for attenuating fast-moving neutons fi4lto-icompletely fill the wcontainer. lug 36 then is =in- :sertedtorcloselopening 34-, andzplug 4t) is placed in position to close "opening 33. The container, when completely-filled with liquid resinous composition 32,then is placedmin a -forced-draftroventand heated to 175 C. for :a period of 3 hours and then cooled. .The resinou's material 32 is'curedto a;solidu-as.aaresult of this heating operation. 4A uniform dispersion-10f;borontthrough the solid tresin'ou's composition 32 is obtained in accordance :with the foregoing procedure. :A solid castingprepared in this fashion wassectionedandno visible settling of the :boron compound wasiohserved. samplesi-fromtthe bottom and top of the casting were analyzed-for boron contentzand wereifound to contain 1.11% and 1.06%, respectively.

Examples offplasticizers whichare suitable: for use in accordance with this invention include di-iso-octylrphthalate, dicapryl phthalate, di-n-octylphthalate, butyl benzyl phthalate,"di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate dibutylrphthalate, di-

octyl azelate, dioctyl adipate, -dioctylsebacate, dibenzyl glycol diacetyl'ricinoleate,-methyl acetyl ricinolcatqttetrahydrofur'furyl oleate and tetraethylene glycol 'clil-isoh'exo- Theplasticizers'may be used singly or suitable admixture of two or more. 7

Boron, the second component ofj'the"resinouscomposition, is used in'amounts withimtherange ofabout .Assillustratedron the drawing, container 11,.tube 22, and lead layer 30 are constructed and'assembled in such manner whereby any straight :line passing through Lthe :end of "tube 24 from the radioactive. area '7 will "pass positionf32' within: container 11. "It is essential ithat the 'various. associated 'parts' be assembled. in accordance with this specificationrtosmake certain thatrall neutrons, which generallyifollow a :straight line;path,' ipass :through vthe walls 10f. tubel 22saand..intosvresinousicomposition 32. To 'insureuthat L 'all:of.=?the :neutrons :pass out :of tube '22 and into rrcsinous composition .32, 1 tube. 221's constructedzin 'such Im'anner"that it extends, ifromzend swall ,16, .in a

stra'ightline' 'forza substantial-distance-Ethrough-the lead layer/30 randbintoaresin fiz within thei'container .to abent portion 42 therein tthehzcontinuesito its terminus-A4 in endivaH- IS of container 511. The neutrons entering tube 22 frorn theradioactive area 114 arc ;al l:1moving. atsa high rateof speed; 'suchne'utronscontinue inga straight Alineand'upon'reaching bent port'ionMZ of 'tube 22x011- tinue- 0min "a' St'raight linetpath through" the'--side' wal1 of tube 22 and pass out into the resinous composition 32, wherein they are attenuated by the high hydrogen content material and captured by the boron. Satisfactory results are obtained by assembling the components in such manner whereby bent portion 42 of tube 22 is located within the middle one-third of the length of the resinous composition 32.

While the present invention has been described and illustrated with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood, of course, that certain changes, substitutions, modifications and the like may be made therein without departing from its true scope.

I claim as my invention:

A shielding wall surrounding a radioactive area, an opening in said well, a neutron absorption and shielding device mounted in said opening, said device comprising (1) a container having a cylindrical side wall and closed end walls, (2) at least one non-rectilinear tube extending longitudinally through said container adapted to contain instrumentation leads extending outwardly from said radioactive area through said radiation shielding wall, one end of said tube opening through one end of said container to said radioactive area and the other end of said tube opening into a less radioactive area through the other end of said container, said tube (a) being of 26 2,716,705

relatively small cross-sectional area with respect to the cross-sectional area of said container and (b) extending from the end of the container nearest to the radioactive area in a straight line for a substantial distance through the container to a bent portion and then continuing in a straight line to its terminus in the other end wall of the container, the openings in the ends of the container for the ends of the tube being oliset with respect to one another, (3) a quantity of lead completely filling resinous composition capable of absorbing neutrons completely filling the balance of said container and surrounding the rest of said passageway means, said composition comprising (a) a resinous material having a ratio of hydrogen atoms to all other atoms in the material within the range of from 1:1 to 2:1 in combination with (b) at least 0.5 percent by weight of boron, said resinous material being selected from the group consisting of polyester resins, phenol-aldehyde resins, butadiene polymers, butadiene-styrene copolymers, butadiene-acrylonitrile copolymers, polyethylene, and plastisols, the tube being of such a shape and disposed within the container in such a manner that any straight line passing through the end of the tube from the radioactive area will pass through at least 40% of ,the total length of said resinous composition within the container, said resinous composition being present within said container in an amount such that approximately 40% of the length of the composition will attenuate and absorb substantially all neutrons impinging on the end wall of the casing nearest to the radioactive area.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Zinn Aug. 30, 1955 2,719,823 Zinn Oct. 4, 1955 2,727,996 Rockwell et a1. Dec. 20, 1955 2,796,411 Zirkle June 18, 1957 OTHER REFERENCES TID-5275, Research Reactors, U.S. Govt Printing Office (1955), pages 367, 380.

The Reactor Handbook, vol. 3, Materials, AECD- 3647, declassified edition February 1955, publ. by Techa substantial length of that portion of the container nical Information Service, US. Atomic Energy Commiswhich is nearest to the radioactive area, and (4) a solid sion, pages 7, 8. 

